Rare is it to see a legend play, but to have the opportunity to see him play at “hole-in-the-wall” places that exude old-school is awesome. Mike Watt of Minutemen fame did a short, four night run around So Cal. Playing with no-less than four different bands, which I was able to catch two of these shows. These shows were not at large venues like when he tours with Iggy Pop. But playing gritty places like the BLVD Café in East LA and the Echo Curio, a small curio shop in Echo Park.
Mike is an unpretentious, hard-thumping bass player there ever was. A seminal part of the So Cal Punk scene of the early 80’s. His style is usually economical, no frills, hard and fast. If you are a bass aficionado, you have to take the opportunity to watch Mike play. Although when he plays, the shows aren’t that well publicized, so the best way to track him is through his Hoot Page.
The first night was DOS at the Echo Curio. It is a small store front with everything cleared off the floor for the band and about 30 of your closest friends. It was been a while since DOS has played together in LA. DOS is the collaboration between Mike and his friend and former wife, Kira Rossler, bassist for Black Flag. This came band came about with the untimely passing of D. Boon to help keep Mike playing. A bass duet with Kira doing the vocals with Mike sitting on the floor. It was definitely mellow and almost felt like a recital. Interesting watching a bass duet and trying to figure out who is playing the bass line and who is doing the melody. Or maybe they were both doing the bass line.
The following night Mike played with the Missingmen at the BLVD Café in East LA. Definitely a gritty bar. You can smell the sweat and blood of this venue as you enter. A perfect venue for The Missingmen. With Tom Watson on guitar and Raul Morales on drums, this power trio definitely gets your heart pumping with that real punk sound, not the stuff today that they try to pass off as punk.
The nice thing about being in LA is the fact that you can find something cool to do every night. These shows were the rare gems that you come across searching that intersnets machine. People get out there and support music in LA. Take advantage of seeing artists at small venues. These are the shows that always seem most memorable.
